Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Rectangular and Triangular Pulse Function01:19

Rectangular and Triangular Pulse Function

1.8K
The unit rectangular pulse function is mathematically represented by a rectangular function centered at the origin with a height of one unit. This function is defined by two parameters: T, which specifies the center location of the pulse along the time axis, and τ, which determines the pulse duration.
For example, consider a rectangular pulse with a 5V amplitude, a 3-second duration, and centered at t=2 seconds. This pulse can be expressed using the rectangular function, written as,
1.8K
Interference and Superposition of Waves01:07

Interference and Superposition of Waves

6.5K
When two waves of the same nature occur in the same region simultaneously, they result in interference. Interference of waves implies that the net effect of the waves is the sum of the individual waves' effects. However, it does not imply that the individual waves affect the propagation of other waves.
Interference occurs in mechanical waves, such as sound waves, waves on a string, and surface water waves. Mechanical waves correspond to the physical displacement of particles. Hence,...
6.5K
Sound Waves: Interference00:53

Sound Waves: Interference

4.5K
Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...
4.5K
Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

8.9K
The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
8.9K
Interference and Diffraction02:18

Interference and Diffraction

51.7K
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
51.7K
Compartment Models: Single-Compartment Model01:14

Compartment Models: Single-Compartment Model

3.0K
The single-compartment model serves as a simplified representation of the human body. This model assumes that the body functions as a single, well-mixed open compartment. When a drug is administered intravenously, it enters the body and quickly distributes uniformly. The drug then undergoes biotransformation and elimination, ultimately leaving the body. The volume of this compartment is referred to as the apparent volume of distribution into which the drug can uniformly distribute. In this...
3.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Towards the construction of a virtual yeast.

Nature·2026
Same author

PhenoRob-P: An autonomous robotic system for high-throughput phenotyping of potted plants.

Plant phenomics (Washington, D.C.)·2026
Same author

Integrative analysis of follicular fluid metabolites, exosomal miRNAs and granulosa cell mRNAs shows their interplay in women of advanced maternal age.

Reproduction, fertility, and development·2026
Same author

Multi-Tiered µDicer Enables Protein-Preserving Microdissection at 10 µm Resolution.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

PhenoRob-F: An autonomous ground-based robot for high-throughput phenotyping of field crops.

Plant phenomics (Washington, D.C.)·2025
Same author

Integrative Omics Defines Metabolic Biomarkers and Genetic Regulatory Mechanisms of Mortality Risk.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2025
Same journal

Chemotactic self-organization captures the dynamics of mammalian hair follicle patterning.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Tomographic imaging of superconducting order using particle-hole interference.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Inferring epidemiological parameters under an infectious phylogeography model with visitor dynamics.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Analytical modeling for suction cup designs for skin-interfaced wearable devices.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Improving cell-free metabolism through direct integration of artificial respiratory chains.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice
07:10

Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice

Published on: July 1, 2018

9.3K

Geometrical compartmentalization of trigger waves.

Zhengda Li1, Kevin S Zhang2, Yuping Chen3

  • 1Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5174.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|October 2, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Trigger waves can be compartmentalized in narrow cellular channels, preventing apoptosis spread. This discovery reveals a new mechanism for controlling biochemical signaling and cellular functions.

Keywords:
apoptosisbistabilitycytoplasmic compartmentalizationneuronal pruningtrigger waves

More Related Videos

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording
13:40

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording

Published on: September 8, 2011

13.2K
Acute Mouse Brain Slicing to Investigate Spontaneous Hippocampal Network Activity
07:58

Acute Mouse Brain Slicing to Investigate Spontaneous Hippocampal Network Activity

Published on: August 28, 2020

10.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice
07:10

Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice

Published on: July 1, 2018

9.3K
Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording
13:40

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording

Published on: September 8, 2011

13.2K
Acute Mouse Brain Slicing to Investigate Spontaneous Hippocampal Network Activity
07:58

Acute Mouse Brain Slicing to Investigate Spontaneous Hippocampal Network Activity

Published on: August 28, 2020

10.2K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Trigger waves are self-regenerating biochemical activity fronts crucial for cell signaling.
  • Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, can propagate via trigger waves.
  • Confined apoptotic caspase activation occurs in specific subcellular regions, like synaptic pruning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if trigger wave propagation can be blocked at junctions between thin and thick cytoplasmic extensions.
  • To explore if trigger wave compartmentalization occurs due to bistable system properties and channel width.
  • To determine the critical channel width for apoptosis compartmentalization.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling and dimensional arguments were used to explore trigger wave compartmentalization.
  • Experimental validation was performed using Xenopus egg extracts undergoing apoptosis.
  • Microscopic analysis was used to measure channel diameters and trigger wave speeds.

Main Results:

  • Modeling confirmed that trigger wave compartmentalization is possible in narrow channels.
  • The critical channel width for compartmentalization was found to be biologically relevant.
  • Experimental results showed that channels < few microns compartmentalize apoptosis.
  • Critical width is inversely proportional to trigger wave speed.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular projections and tubules can compartmentalize biochemical states within continuous cytoplasm.
  • This mechanism offers spatial control over biochemical signaling pathways.
  • It represents a fundamental, previously overlooked method for regulating cellular functions.